Renting a car under 25 in Tennessee

Rental car companies charge a young driver surcharge to renters under 25 because, statistically, drivers in this age group are involved in more accidents per mile driven than drivers 25 and older. The surcharge is how rental companies price that elevated actuarial risk into the rental agreement. It's not personal — it's the same calculus your own auto insurance premium uses when you're young and your rates are higher than your parents'.

The surcharge is applied per day and stacks on top of the base rental rate. At national chains, this fee is typically $25–35 per day, which on a weekend rental adds $50–70 to your total. At Drive865, the young driver fee is applied on direct bookings for renters aged 21–24. The specific amount is disclosed at the time of booking — there are no hidden fees that appear at pickup.

Some national chains set their age minimum at 25 and don't rent to younger drivers at all (Budget and Payless have been known to do this at certain locations). Most Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, and National locations will rent to 21-year-olds with the surcharge. Some Alamo and National locations allow 18+ with an even higher fee. The rules vary by location, not just brand, so always confirm directly with the specific rental location before booking.

We rent to drivers aged 21 and over. Renters aged 21–24 pay the young driver surcharge, which is disclosed at booking. There are no additional restrictions on vehicle access for younger renters — a 22-year-old can rent the MR2, the Supra, the WRX STI, or any other car in the fleet, the same as any other renter. We don't age-gate access to specific vehicles beyond the standard rental requirements that apply to everyone.

We do require a valid driver's license, a credit card in the renter's name, and proof of insurance. 'Credit card in your name' is a real requirement — debit cards are not accepted, and a parent's card or a card belonging to someone else does not satisfy this requirement unless they are co-listed on the account. If you're 21–22 and building your credit, a secured credit card in your name works.

The rental agreement and the rental itself are in your name. If there's an additional driver, that person must also meet the age and license requirements. Additional drivers under 25 also pay the young driver surcharge unless they're a spouse or domestic partner (this varies by booking channel; confirm at the time of booking).

The national chains at TYS — Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National — all rent to 21+ renters, but their young driver fee structures differ. Enterprise typically charges $25–30/day for renters aged 21–24. Hertz charges a flat young driver surcharge on top of their daily rate. Avis and Budget are similar. National allows emerald club members to sometimes avoid the surcharge, but membership requirements apply.

The key thing to understand about national chain young driver fees is that they compound with other fees: airport concession fees (typically 10–15% on top of the base rate), vehicle license recovery fees, and fuel charges. A 3-day weekend rental that looks like $80/day on the website can easily become $140+/day total for an under-25 renter after all fees and surcharges stack.

At Drive865, the young driver fee and the base rate are the primary costs. There's no airport concession fee (we're off-airport), no hidden recovery fees of the chain variety. Younger renters who do the math on total cost often find that Drive865 is competitive with or cheaper than the national chains after accounting for the full fee stack on both sides.

Budget for three cost categories: the base daily rate, the young driver surcharge, and the security deposit hold on your credit card. The security deposit is a temporary hold (not a charge) that's returned after the rental ends and the car comes back clean. The hold amount varies by vehicle and is disclosed at booking. Make sure your credit card has enough available credit to cover both the rental charges and the deposit hold simultaneously.

Insurance is an additional consideration. If you're under 25, you're also likely in a stage of life where your personal auto insurance situation is in flux — you may be on your parents' policy, you may have your own entry-level policy, or you may be between vehicles and technically uninsured. Know your coverage status before you book. If you're on a parent's policy, confirm with your parents' carrier that the coverage extends to rental vehicles. If you have your own policy, confirm coverage extends to rentals and that sports vehicles aren't excluded.

The honest budget for a 22-year-old renting a BRZ from Drive865 for a weekend: base rate + young driver surcharge + fuel (bring it back full). That's the full cost list. No airport concession fee stacking, no counter upsell sequence you have to hold your ground through.

The list is short but the details matter. You need: a valid US driver's license (digital license on your phone may not be accepted — bring the physical card), a credit card in your own name (debit cards are not accepted), and your insurance card or proof of coverage. If your insurance is on a parent's policy, bring a copy of the declarations page that shows your name as a covered driver.

You do not need to bring a passport, an international driving permit, or any other documentation unless you have a foreign license. You do not need prior rental history. First-time renters with valid licenses, credit cards, and insurance are rented to without issue.

Before leaving the lot: photograph the car from all four corners and the roof, check the fuel level against your booking confirmation, locate the lockbox (it goes in the glove box for the return), start the car and confirm everything is working normally. This takes three minutes and protects you on return. Send the photos to us immediately after you do it so there's a timestamped record.